Dock board

ABSTRACT

A positionable dock board or gangway for service bridging the space separation between railway box-cars and a cargo shipping and/or receiving dock situated adjacent the railway track. The dock board unit hereof includes a platform securable to the dock facing with which it is to be used in a manner providing for pivotal platform movement between a horizontal service position and a vertical storage position. When in the vertical relation, the unit affords increased ease of longitudinal positioning for traversing between cars and precise locating at a car door. Transversely extending adjustable support arms enable accommodating variable spacing between dock and car while turnover plates at the free end have an adjustable pivot axis permitting greater angular offset and consequent ease of cargo handling in immediately adjacent car areas.

United States Patent Turner May 30, 1972 [54] DOCK BOARD Primary Examiner-Jacob L. Nackenoff Attorney-Robert W. Mayer, Thomas P. Hubbard, Jr., Daniel Inventor: Ernest Turner, Muskeson- Mich Rubin, Raymond T. Majesko, Roy L. Van Winkle, William E. [73] Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc., Dallas, Tex. Johnson and Edd: Scott [22] Filed: Apr. 7, 1970 ABSTRACT App]. No.: 26,271

A positionable dock board or gangway for service bridging the space separation between railway box-cars and a cargo shipping and/or receiving dock situated adjacent the railway track. The dock board unit hereof includes a platform securable to the dock facing with which it is to be used in a manner providing for pivotal platform movement between a horizontal service position and a vertical storage position. When in the vertical relation, the unit affords increased ease of longitudinal positioning for traversing between cars and precise locating at a car door. Transversely extending adjustable support arms enable accommodating variable spacing between dock and car while turnover plates at the free end have an adjustable pivot axis permitting greater angular offset and consequent ease of cargo handling in immediately adjacent car areas.

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While these prior constructions are generally suitable under most usual conditions of service, several undesirable features associated with the prior art units have rendered then generally less than suitable and even handicapped in specific instances. Among the latter, has been: l) the difficulty associated with longitudinal movement for traversing from one car to the next; 2) an inability to readily and conveniently accommodate platform support with standard length platforms under variable spacing conditions between dock and car as generally occurs with cars of different width; and 3) an inability to avoid obstruction interference when working with a truck or other loading implement in the car areas immediately adjacent the terminal dock board end thereat.

SUMMARY tions encountered in service. In accordance herewith, difficulties and handicaps associated with prior art devices are overcome by novel construction contributing substantially to increasing efficiency of cargo loading and unloading procedures.

It is therefore an object of the invention to providean improved dock board construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction for dock boards over which cargo can be moved between shipping and/or receiving docks and parked railroad cars.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved dock board as in the aforementioned object affording greater handling ease and increased versatility as compared to similar units of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of the dock board hereof shown extended in its horizontal service relation;

FIG. 2 illustrates the dock board hereof in its upright storage position as viewed from its underside;

FIG. 3 is a dock board top plan view;

FIG. 4 is a dock board and view shown in its horizontally extending service relation;

FIG. 5 is a dock board end view shown in its upright storage relation;

6 and 7 are comparative enlargements of the encircled FIG. 12 is an end view of the throwover plate pivot support in its shifted relation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the dock board in accordance herewith includes a platform designated 10 comprising a floor plate 11 of checkered or other suitable textured tracking surface secured to a frame including side plates 12 and 13, rear plate 14 and front plate 15. On its underside the platform is braced to withstand required loading by means of a plurality of reinforcement channels 18 and end gussets l9. Secured to the front or free terminal end of the platfonn is a pair of symetrically arranged, individually operable throwover plates 20 and 21 as will be described. As there shown, the platform spans between a shipping and/or receiving dock designated 24 and a railroad car designated 25 situated parked on track 26. It is understood of course, that it is usual for several tandemly connected cars to be so parked at any one time.

For mounting the platform onto the dock the latter is provided with a reinforced concrete base 28 in which is set an elongated tracking rail 29 usually extending several car lengths. Secured to the tracking rail is a longitudinally extending support rail 30 of approximately equal length as the tracking rail and preferably at least sufficient to sequentially service a desired number of cars at any one loading period. Welded to the top side of support rail 30 is a circular or beaded rod 31 extending coterminous therewith and which functions to both provide a clamping surface for the platform in service and guidance during transverse movement thereof for relocation as required.

In order to permit platform pivoting there is provided behind rear plate 14 a plurality of staggered spaced apart arm support brackets 34 each containing a transverse bore 35 defining a pivot axis through which to receive a pivot pin 36. Oppositely located to receive and support each arm bracket and pivot pin is a cleavis or bifurcated support 37 integrally formed from an angle-sectioned rear frame 38. Connected laterally behind the rear frame at its top is a longitudinal parallel joined bar rail 39 having a downwardly depending section 42 arranged to physically encounter and embrace rod 31 in friction locking engagement while the platform is in service relation as will be understood. As will be described in connection with FIG. 6 and 7, rail 39 and dependent section 42 become displaced from rod 31 during upright storage of the platform to permit free running movement relative thereto.

Limiting the support against pivoting in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3-5, is a pair of spaced apart lower wheels 43 and 44 supported axially vertical on axle 45 within lower wheel housings 46 each connected at opposite ends of rear frame 38. As can be seen in these figures, each wheel periphery bears against a lower section of clock face to prevent clockwise pivoting while at the same time aids in conveying the platform as will be described.

For supporting the front or free terminal end of the platform at the car, there is provided a pair of oppositely spaced, adjustably extendable support arms 49 and 50 able to accommodate variable spacing support occasioned by variable car widths without resorting to an overlength platform. Each arm consists of a substantially rectangular cross section having a tooth or rack-like apertured construction 51 along its upper edge and each is adapted for a free-running, slidable fit within a respective channel slot 56. Defining each channel slot (see also FIG. 8) is a top wall 52 and a side wall 53 connecting with each of side plates 12 and 13. The undersurface of each support arm is at an elevation with respect to the platform as to have at least it frontmost end rest or otherwise engage the car floor when the dock is placed in its horizontal service position.

By means of the free running fit within the channel slots, any variable spacing incurred between dock 24 and car 25 thereat can be readily and conveniently accommodated by merely drawing the support arms outward to an appropriately required extension beyond the platform sufficient to engage the car floor. After proper length of each arm has been determined, a pin 54 can be manually inserted transversely through aligned apertures 58 to intercept a pair of teeth 51 thereby in terlocking the respective support arm in position. Each pin is loosely secured via a chain 59 in turn connected to the adjacent side plate and can be readily removed from looking position of the support arm for re-positioning the latter as required. Movement of the support arms from its innermost position to an outwardly extended position is outlined dashed in FIG. 4 and is represented by the dimension X". By means of a simple manually performed adjustment, any practicable variation in distance between dock and car can be readily and effectively compensated for.

At the forwardmost front or terminal end of the platform between the adjustable support arms 49 and 50 are throwover plates and 21 which under usual conditions of service engage the car floor and provide asurface extension in continuity with floor plate 11. Referring specifically to FIGS. 9-12, each throwover plate comprises a suitably thick metal plate section having a checkered or other suitably textured tracking surface and is generally rectangular in shape. For supporting the plates to the platform there is provided at each upper end thereof a weld-connected hinge tube 60 through which extends a hinge bar 61 about which the plate is free to pivot and defining the pivot axis therefor. Each bar is supported inde pendent of the other in horizontal end cross tubes 68 and 69.

For supporting the cross tubes there are provided vertical support tubes 64 and 65 welded in a vertical arrangement to front wall 15 at each side of the respective throwover plates. Contained within the latter tubes are vertically movable bars or rods 66 and 67 welded at their upper ends in a T formation to the underside of cross tubes 68 and 69. Rods 66 and 67 are slidably free to be manually raised within their respective support tubes and in the normal platform service position, horizontal cross tubes 68 and 69 rest on the upper ends of the vertical support tubes placing the pivot axis during usual service conditions displaced slightly below the level offloor 11.

Where storage or non-use of the throwover plates is desired, they can be placed in the position illustrated in FIG. 11 by dropping them downward and for this purpose each plate includes a cutout 70 at their inner opposing edges to permit passage over the vertical support tube thereat. When it is desired to permit a fork truck or the like to remove pallets or other merchandise loaded close to the car door otherwise rendering it difficult to maneuver the truck about the throwover plates thereat, the above described support for the plates permits temporary removal thereof to a storage position such as shown in FIG. 12. Since each vertical rod 66 or 67 is independently slidabie freely upward, the entire plate support can be raised from the pivot axis elevation of FIG. 11 to the pivot axis elevation of FIG. 12 whereby each throwover plate can independently be thrown backward into a flat flush overlying position on floor plate 11. A cross pin 71 extending transversely through each of the sliding rods 66 and 67 limits upward movement as to avert inadvertent removal of the rod from its respective support tube. By these means, prior difficulties associated with operating a fork truck or the like in the immediate vicinity of the throwover plates is readily overcome by a simple yet highly expedient feature of shifting the pivot axis to enable removing the plates from interferring relation and which can be readily handled manually by the truck operator Operating platform 10 between horizontal and vertical positions is effected by means of a hydraulic power unit 74 of a type commercially available and energized by the operator from an electric push button control 75. Unit 74 is supported on a lower shelf 76 and via hydraulic conduit 77 connects to piston housings 78 and 79. Each piston housing is pivotally connected at its lower end to a support bracket 82 while the piston per se at its upper end is connected via a cleavis 83 secured to the underside of the platform. Energizing power unit 74 causes the piston members to either be extended or retracted such that when completely retracted platfonn 10 is in horizontal service relation as shown in FIG, 4 whereas when fully extended it is in vertical storage and/or movable relation as shown in FIG. 5.

With platform 10 horizontally extended, a pair of wheels 84 and 85 secured by means of axles 86 in housings 88 and 89 respectively projecting away from opposite side edges of the platform are supported idle without any operative function as can be seen in FIG. 4. Each of the wheels are inwardly shaped about their periphery to receivably accommodate the geometric configuration of rod 31 and in the preferred embodiment are vee-grooved as at 90. As the platform is moved upward to its vertical relation, axles 86 become horizontal placing the wheels upright central grooves 90 come to rest engaging 31 as can be seen in FIG. 5. Concurrently, as can be seen by comparing the relations of FIGS. 6 and 7, the underside of rail 39 and dependent 42 which in FIG. 6 are firmly engaged against rod 31 for providing a positive frictional hold or lock of the platform during service are as shown in FIG. 7, slightly raised and displaced from rod 31 automatically releasing the friction lock as to not interfere with any intentional transverse relocating movement therefor.

The provided friction lock is sufficient during normal conditions to prevent unintentional transverse shifting of the platform during service. Should however any sudden unexpected impact lunging or movement of the car occur against the platform for whatever reason, the lock will in reaction permit resisted movement of the platform to accommodate the imposed impact. With automatic lock release of the entire platform structure when upright as aforesaid, it can be manually shifted longitudinally along rod 31 to any convenient location as to the next tandem car to be serviced, without encountering any drag forces imposed by the friction lock. On shifting the unit in either direction, movement is guided by free rolling of wheels 84 and 85 over the topside of rod 31 whereas wheels 43 and 44 engaging the clock face, provide free rolling in opposite to the turning moment about the pivot mount.

By the above description there is disclosed a novel dock board construction providing conveniences and versatility not previously known in similar units of the prior art. By virtue of the novel construction hereof the entire unit can be readily and easily relocated to any desired dock location at which it is to be employed without handicap of a drag imposed by a frictional lock during the course of movement. At the same time a frictional lock is automatically imposed during service while adjustability of the free end support in the form of extendable arms provides a feature not previously known in structures of this type further enhancing versatility of the unit. Moreover, by means of an adjustable pivot axis for the throwover plates it is conveniently possible to readily pivot the plates through an arc of up to 270 degrees to a removed location averting obstruction interference around the immediate work area as has been previously encountered, Despite the improved construction afforded hereby the features can be recognized as relatively inexpensive to provide whereby to not render the unit more costly than other units on which similar features are not available. While described as principally intended for use with railway box cars, it obviously has utility with other common forms of cargo carriers.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the drawings and specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a dock board for providing spanned support between a dock area and an adjacently parked cargo carrier including a transversely extending support means adapted to be securably mounted to a dock with which the dock board to be used, and a platform structure having a floor surface, mounting means at a first end of said platform proximate said support means for connecting said platform structure to said support means; said mounting means comprising in combination:

a. a frame member interrnediately extending between said support means and said first platform end;

b pivot means connecting said platform structure to said frame member for pivoting said platform structure between a first position placing said floor surface in a generally horizontal relation relative to the dock and a second position placing said floor surface in a generally vertical relation relative to the dock;

afirst rigid member secured to said support means extending laterally therefrom toward said frame member;

. a second rigid member secured to said frame member extending laterally therefrom toward said support means;

e. said rigid members terminating at least partially superposed to each other for operatively effecting a friction hold between said frame member and said support means when said platform is in said first position; and

wheel means on an axis substantially normal to the plane of said platform surface and secured to said platform structure for conjoint pivotal movement therewith, said wheel means being positioned when said platform is in said second position to peripherally engage said first rigid member and operatively effect frictional disengagement of said first and second rigid members for permitting relatively free transverse conveying movement of said platform structure together with said frame member.

2. In a dock board according to claim 1 including second wheel means located on said frame beneath said platform and peripherally engageable with the dock face thereat in opposition to a pivot moment about the pivot axis of said frame member.

3. In a dock board according to claim 1 in which said rigid members also terminate at least partially juxtaposed to each other by a portion of said first rigid member comprising a transversely extending wheel engageable support of nonplanar geometric configured cross section to receivably accommodate and guide the peripherally engageable surface of said first mentioned wheel means.

4. In a dock board according to claim 3 in which said wheel engageable support has a circular cross section and the periphery of said wheel means is radially inward vee-shaped.

v5. In a dock board according to claim 3 in which the at least partially juxtaposed portion of said second rigid member comprises an offset cooperating with said wheel engageable support of said first rigid member for effecting said friction hold when said platform is in said first position.

6. In a dock board according to claim 3 including second support means to support a second end of said platform opposite from said first end, said second support means being load bearing and adjustably extendable outward beyond the surface edge of said platform in a direction away from the dock to engage a cargo carrier thereat.

7. In a dock board according to claim 6 in which said platform includes means defining an elongated slot along at least one side edge thereof and said second support means is slidably movable within said slot.

8. In a dock board according to claim 7 in which said second support means comprises at least a pair of spaced apart arms in separate of said slots and each including a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures laterally extending in said arms and further including portable pin means manually insertable into selected of said apertures to secure a desired outward arm extension beyond said platform.

9. In a dock board according to claim 6 including a throwover plate pivotally connected at the second end of said platform.

10. In a dock board according to claim 9 in which the pivot axis of said throwover plate is shiftable from a position below the plane of said floor to a raised position permitting a flush overly of the plate on said floor. 

1. In a dock board for providing spanned support between a dock area and an adjacently parked cargo carrier including a transversely extending support means adapted to be securably mounted to a dock with which the dock board to be used, and a platform structure having a floor surface, mounting means at a first end of said platform proximate said support means for connecting said platform structure to said support means; said mounting means comprising in combination: a. a frame member intermediately extending between said support means and said first platform end; b. pivot means connecting said platform structure to said frame member for pivoting said platform structure between a first position placing said floor surface in a generally horizontal relation relative to the dock and a second position placing said floor surface in a generally vertical relation relative to the dock; c. a first rigid member secured to said support means extending laterally therefrom toward said frame member; d. a second rigid member secured to said frame member extending laterally therefrom toward said support means; e. said rigid members terminating at least partially superposed to each other for operatively effecting a friction hold between said frame member and said support means when said platform is in said first position; and f. wheel means on an axis substantially normal to the plane of said platform surface and secured to said platform structure for conjoint pivotal movement therewith, said wheel means being positioned when said platform is in said second position to peripherally engage said first rigid member and operatively effect frictional disengagement of said first and second rigid members for permitting relatively free transverse conveying movement of said platform structure together with said frame member.
 2. In a dock board according to claim 1 including second wheel means located on said frame beneath said platform and peripherally engageable with the dock face thereat in opposition to a pivot moment about the pivot axis of said frame member.
 3. In a dock board according to claim 1 in which said rigid members also terminate at least partially juxtaposed to each other by a portion of said first rigid member comprising a transversely extending wheel engageable support of non-planar geometric configured cross section to receivably accommodate and guide the peripherally engageable surface of said fiRst mentioned wheel means.
 4. In a dock board according to claim 3 in which said wheel engageable support has a circular cross section and the periphery of said wheel means is radially inward vee-shaped.
 5. In a dock board according to claim 3 in which the at least partially juxtaposed portion of said second rigid member comprises an offset cooperating with said wheel engageable support of said first rigid member for effecting said friction hold when said platform is in said first position.
 6. In a dock board according to claim 3 including second support means to support a second end of said platform opposite from said first end, said second support means being load bearing and adjustably extendable outward beyond the surface edge of said platform in a direction away from the dock to engage a cargo carrier thereat.
 7. In a dock board according to claim 6 in which said platform includes means defining an elongated slot along at least one side edge thereof and said second support means is slidably movable within said slot.
 8. In a dock board according to claim 7 in which said second support means comprises at least a pair of spaced apart arms in separate of said slots and each including a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures laterally extending in said arms and further including portable pin means manually insertable into selected of said apertures to secure a desired outward arm extension beyond said platform.
 9. In a dock board according to claim 6 including a throwover plate pivotally connected at the second end of said platform.
 10. In a dock board according to claim 9 in which the pivot axis of said throwover plate is shiftable from a position below the plane of said floor to a raised position permitting a flush overly of the plate on said floor. 